Nantes vs Lille prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2024-05-11 19:00.
[p]Nantes are inching their way to Ligue 1 safety, and a four-point gap to the relegation play-off spot with two games to go means avoiding defeat against Lille will secure their top-flight status for another season. Last weekend’s 0-0 draw with Brest guaranteed they can’t finish in the bottom two, which was likely the minimum manager Antoine Kombouaré was targeting when appointed in March.[/p]
[p]While he’s got the Canaries picking up points, all of them since his return to the club have arrived on the road (W2, D2), so he’ll be desperate to give home fans something to cheer at Stade de la Beaujoire for the final time this term. Not since before Christmas have Nantes tasted victory on home turf, losing a joint-Ligue 1 record eight in a row in the top flight here![/p]
[p]Looking to inflict another home defeat are Lille, who have plenty to play for at the other end of the table as their 4-3 defeat to Lyon left them with a deficit to third place and direct qualification for the Champions League group phase. Manager Paulo Fonseca bemoaned his side’s poor game management after the defeat in which his team threw away the points despite leading 3-2 going into the latter stages. [/p]
[p]But defeats haven’t been a problem against Nantes recently as they haven’t lost a H2H since September 2015 (W13, D4), so they should head west with confidence. A repeat of last term’s 1-1 draw here wouldn’t thrill the Mastiffs but as they’ve lost only one of their last four league road games (W2, D1), they’re at least in good shape to land another positive result. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Nantes’ Mostafa Mohamed needs one goal to surpass last season’s tally of eight in Ligue 1 – three of the last four came between the 50th and 80th minute. If Lille need a late goal, they might seek out BafodĂ© DiakitĂ©, as three of his six competitive strikes this term were headers after the 80th minute, including one against Lyon![/p]
[p]Hot stat: Nantes are winless this term against sides currently in the top four (D2, L4), conceding 2+ times in five of those games.[/p]